Talking-machine



G. H. ljSLEY.

TALKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1916.

' 1,355 ,oso, Patented 5, 1920;

. 3'; WITNESSES. b lNVENTOfi To all whom it may concern:

UNITED "STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HENRY ISLEY, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

} TALKING-MACHINE.

v Appl ication filed July 10,

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. ISLEYI, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Worcester, in the county of Worcester and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Talking-Machines, of which the following, together with the accompanying drawings, is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in talking machines, and more particularly to such machines as are adapted.

for playing a plurality of records successively, an object of the invention being the provision of automatically operated means for causing the successive reproduction of a plurality of records without the necessity of any attention by an operator.

-The machine of the present invention also contemplates the automatic reproduction,- when desired, of any given record among a plurality of different records carried there-. by. The above and other objects are attained by the introduction of a novel .principle of operation in devices of this class, whereby a construction ofi extreme simplicity is possible, and whereby the expen sive and, complicated mechanisms heretofore employed for accomplishing the above purposes. are eliminated.

The invention is fully set forth in the following description, reference. being had in this connection to the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example merely, one embodiment thereof; it will be clear, however, that'n'umerous modifications of the mechanism there disclosed may be resorted to without departingfrom the spirit of the invention and the novel principles underlying the same, as recited in the annexed claims. In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a plan-view of the mechanism, with certain portions thereof broken away and shown in section, to illustrate more. clearly the construction of other parts.

Fi 2 is a plan view ofa cam carrying mem er forming part of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1. I I

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view, in elevation, of the member shown in. Fig. 2. V

Fig. 4 is a sectional view, showing a form of rotatable record support, as .used in the mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Like reference characters refer to like parts in the different figures;

Referring to Fig. 1, the mechanism here Specification of Letters Patent.

shown for purposes of illustration is of a horizontal type, and adapted for operation on the so-called disk records; It is to be understood, however, that the principles of my invention are clearly applicable to other types of talking machines than the horizontal type here illustrated as well as to other kinds of records. The mechanism in. the present instance may be suitably supported and disposed within a casing C, and said mechanism comprises essentially a rotatably mounted wheel or spider 1. The rim of wheel 1 serves for the support of a plurality of record tables 2, the latter being carried on hollow shafts 3 which are journaled at eipal distances around the rim of wheel 1. ach shaft 3 has secured to' its lower end a friction wheel, by which the shaft with its attached recordtable 2 is rotated, ina manner hereinafter described, for the playing of a record disposed on said table. A record is suitably positioned on each. 'table 2 by means of a centering spindle 5,

which projects above the supporting face of table 2 and is slidable through the bore of shaft 3, being heldyieldingly in position by means of a spring 6 encircling and attached to its lower end and also attached to the associated friction Wheel 4.

The record tables 2 are thus arranged in annular or circular form about the center of the revoluble member 1, and preferably, as shown, the shafts 3 are obliquely journaled, so that the tables 2 are slightly inclined, in order that the records, when placed there- ,on, will progressively overlie each other and yet all be approximately in the same general plane. Under these conditions, with recordsof the same size, the peripheral portions of all the records will be at equal distances from the central ortions of adjacent records, and thus the s iftin of the tone arm and reproducing needle om one we 0rd to another, in the manner hereinafter described, will be greatly facilitated.

Concentric to the member 1, and revoluble in unison therewith is a cam supporting member 7, whose rim is adapted to carry the ment, in any desired position to the rim of the member 7. Said cams are arran ed in pairs on said member, the number o pairs 1 corresponding to the numberof disk records carried by the member 1, and obviously said cams are capable of adjustment to any desired position on the member 7, and are also capable of a continuous arrangement, with a single ga Fig. 2, in the event that it is onl desire toplay the particular record wit which the gap is associated, as hereinafter described. Said cams are designed for action upon a swiveled tone arm 10, to raise the same away from the record which has been played and to lower it into operative position with respect to the next record desired to be played, in the manner hereinafter described. Said tone arm 10 is swiveled to a pivoted tubular member 17 in the manner common to devices of this class, the member 17 being in communication with the horn tube of the mechanism, not shown. The tone arm 10 and pivoted tubular member 17 are completely insulated from the members 1 and 7 by means of a suitable insulating ring 11.

For rotating the members 1 and 7 about the common center thereof, a friction wheel 12 is provided, with its periphery in contact with the rim of member 1. The shaft of wheel 12 is suitably Sgeared, as shown, to a prime mover, such as amotor 13, one terminal of which is connected to a brush or wiper 14 by means of a conductor 15. The brush 14 is in constant contact with the rim of member 1, and thus an electrical connection is established between all of the cams 8, 9 and 8, 9' and the motor 13, through the members 7 and 1, brush 14 and conductor 15. When a contact 16 on tone arm 10 engages any one of the cams 8, 9 or 8, 9, the motor circuit is completed, through tone arm 10, pivoted tubular member 17, conductor 18, battery or source of electrical supply 19 and conductor 20, the latter being effective upon the closure of a switch 21. Therefore, only when the switch 21 is closed, and when the contact 16 is in engagement with one of the cams on member 7, will the motor 13 operate to rotate the members 1 and 7 and the devices carried thereby; as soon as the contact 16 is moved away from the cam, the rotation of motor 13 ceases, and the members 1 and 7 become stationary.

For driving the tables 2, an endless belt.

22 is here shown in position for frictional engagement with the friction wheels 4, as the latter are successively moved by the rotation of member 1 into contact with said belt. The belt 22 passes around pulleys 23 and 24, the shaft of the latter being driven by suitable gearin from a prime mover such as a motor 25. T e motor 25 is connected to the source of electrical supply 19 by conductors 26 and 27, the latter having interposed therein a switch 28, which is adapted to be openedautomatically, when desired, by the rotation of member 1, as hereinafter described.

The operation of my improved mechanism, as thus far described, is as follows When the motor 25 is started by closure of switch 28, the belt 22, in the position of the parts shown in Fig. 1, will rotate a record 29 which is in position on the particular table 2 which at that time has been moved into operative relation to said belt. Under these conditions, the tonearm 10, as shown, is between adjacent pairs of cams 8, 9 and 8, 9', and is therefore depressed, so that its needle 30 travels continuously in the groove of the record 29, and gradually approaches the center of said record, in the manner ordinarily characterizing the play of disk records. During the play of record 29, the contact 16 is out of engagement with any cams on the member 7, and consequently the member 1 is stationary. The tone arm 10 and needle 30 swing slowly toward the center of record 29, by virtue of the pivotal support of tubular member 17, as is usual in devices of this class, and finally, approximately coincident with the arrival of needle 30 at the inner end of the record groove, the contact 16 is carried into engagment with the cam 9', which has previously been set in the proper position. This contact between the tone arm 10 and the cam 9 completes the electrical circuit for motor 13, which starts the rotation of member 1 in the direction of arrow A. The member 7 rotates in unison therewith, so that the entire structure, including the tone arm 10, is moved as a single member to carry the record 29 out of operative engagement with the belt 22 and to move the friction wheel 4 of record 31 toward said belt.

During this movement the tone arm 10, which lies in contact with the edge of cam 9', is pushed by said edge toward a stationary stop 36; when the tone arm strikes said stop, as shown in Fig. 1, the continued rotation of member 7 causes said tone arm to ride up the inclined edge of cam 9' and thereby to withdraw the needle 30 from the surface of record 29. With the tone arm 10 I 13, so as to stop the rotation of member 1 just as the record 31 is brought into operative relation to the belt 22, so as to be rotated, for playing thereby. Simultaneously, the tone arm 10 is allowed to drop into playing position, with the needle 30.thereof in the outer convolution of the groove in record 31. After the playing of record 31, the above action is automatically repeated for the playing of the next successive record, as will be readily understood. 4

It will be seen that an outstanding feature of the above mechanism is embodied in the automatic movement of the records into and out of playing position with respect to the tone arm. The tone arm, immediately upon the completion of a record, moves with said record as the latter is carried automatically out of playing position, the previous movement 0 the tone arm, while playing, having inaugurated this shifting movement. T herefore, this shifting movement is effective in raising the tone arm from the record which 'has been completed, and in holding said tone arm raised until the next succeeding record has been moved into playing position beneath the tone arm, whereupon the latter is lowered into operative position, simultaneously with the cessation of the shifting movement. It will be understood, further, that with the mechanism above described, the series of records arranged on the tables 2 may be played over and over in succession, or, if desired, the operation of the mechanism may be discontinued automatically after any given record has been played, by providing stops 32 or 32 in position on the member 1, to open the switch 28, thereby stopping the motor 25. Furthermore, the cams 8, 9 and 8', 9 on member 7 may be so arranged as to enable any record onthe tables 2 to be omitted, or said cams may be placed in the positions indicated in Fig. 2, whereby one record on the tables 2 will be played over and over, all the other records being omitted or skipped because the tone arm is held in elevated position while they are passing beneath the same.

It is to be understood that the drawings herein are illustrative merely of one way of carrying out the novel principles of my invention, and that my invention is not confined to the particular arrangement of apparatus therein shown. The arrangement of the driving devices for. rotating and for shifting the records may obviously be varied,

it being clear that variations in the manner of presenting successive records to the play- 4 ing devices, as well as changes in. the types of records used, are within the contemplation of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim,

1. In a talking'machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of means for moving records successively into position for playing by said reproducing mechanism, means actuated by the arrival of said reproducing mechanism at a predeterf mined point in the playing of a record for inaugurating the movement of said record away from playing position, and means brou ht into operation b1 the final portion of sald movement away om playing position for withdrawing said reproducing mechanism from said record.

2. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of means for moving records successively into position for playing by said reproducingmechanism, means actuated by a predetermined traverse of said reproducing mechanism over a record, in playing the same, forv causing movement 0 ing position, and movement of another record into playing position, and means brought into operation by the final portions of said movements for procuring the transfer of said reproducing mechanism from the first record to the second record.

3. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a plurality of recordsadapted for movement successively into position for playing by said reproducing mechanism, means operable by a predetermined traverse of said reproducing mechanism over a record in playing the same-for inau urating the movement of said record away rom playing position, simultaneously with a corresponding movement of said reproducing mechanism, and means responsive to said movement'for thereafter procuring the separation of said'reproducing mechanism from said record.

4. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a plurality of records adapted for movement,

successively, into position for playing by said record out of playmeans for a plurality of records for mov-- ing them successively into and out of operative relation to said reproducing mechanism, means set 1n operation by the arrival of said reproducing mechanism at a predetermined point in the playing of a recordfor actuating said carrying means, whereby tomove said record out of playing position, said reproducing mechanism moving in unison with said carrying means, and means for arresting, the movement of said reproducing mechanism during the movement of said carrying. means, whereby to withdraw said reproducing mechanism from operative relation to said record.

6. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a mov able support for a plurality of records,

adapted to present them, successively, in position for playing by the traverse of said reproducing mechanism, engaging means secured to said support for contact with said reproducing mechanism at a predetermined point in its traverse of a record, for inaugurating the movement of said support, whereby to move said record out of playing position, and means for thereafter arresting the movement of said reproducing mechanism by said support, whereby said engaging means efl'ects the withdrawal of said reproducinIg mechanism from said record.

7. n a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a record actuating means, a movable support for a plurality of records, adapted to present them, successively, to the action of said record actuating means, for playing by the traverse of said reproducing mechanism, engaging means earried by said support for contact with said reproducing mechanism at a predetermined point in its traverse of a record, for inaugurating the movement of said support, whereby to move said record out of its operative relation to said actuating means, and thereby to terminate the traverse of said record by said reproducing means, and means operable by the continued movement of said support for automatically withdrawing said reproducing mechanism from operative relation to said record.

8. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, adapted for the operative traverse of a record 1n playing the same, of means set in operation by the traverse of said reproducing mechanism to a predetermined point in the playing of said record, for moving said record out of playing ,position, said reproducing mechanism moving in unison with said record moving means, in the reverse direction to its operative traverse of said record, and means for thereafter causing a relative traversing movement between said record and said reproducing mechanism, to efiect the withdrawal of the latter from the former.

9. In a talking machine, the combination with' a reproducing mechanism, adapted for the operative traverse of a record in playing the same, of means set in operation by the traverse of said reproducing mechanism to a predetermined point in the playing of said record, for moving saidrecord out of playing position, and another record into playing position, said reproducing mechanism moving in unison with said first record for apredetermined distance, and means for thereafter causing relative movement be tween said first record and said reproducing means, whereby to transfer the latter into contact with said second record.

10. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a movable support for a plurality of records, means operable by the traverse of said reproducing mechanism, in playing one record, for inaugurating the movement'of said support to carry another record toward its playing position, and means operated by relative movement between said support and said reproducing mechanism for stopping said second record in playing position.

11. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a movable support for a plurality of records, means operable by the traverse of said -reproducing mechanism, in playing one record, for inaugurating the movement of said support to carry another record toward its playing position, and means operated by relative movement between said support and said reproducing mechanism for transferring said-reproducing mechanism from said first record to said second record;

12. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a movable support for a plurality of records, means operable by the traverse of said-reproducing mechanism, in playing .one record, for

inaugurating the movement of said support to carry another record toward its playing position, and means operated by relative movement between said sup ort and said reproducing mechanism for e evating the latter out of contact with said first record.

13. In a talking machine, a tone arm, a support for a plurality of records, a contact devlce on said support, and electrical means for moving said support, said means being controlled by an electrical circuit that includes said tone arm and said contact device.

14. A device of the character described comprising a pivoted tone arm, a plurality of record carrying turn tables movable about the pivot of the tone arm, a sound box carried by the tone arm and adapted to selectively engage records on the turn tables, and means for automatically procuring engagement of the sound box with records on successive turn tables upon completion of the playing operation of a previous turn table.

15. A multiple record phonograph comprising a pivoted tone arm, a plurality of record carrying turn tables movable about the pivot of the tone arm, a sound box carried by the tone 'arm and engageable successively with records on the turn' tables, said tone arm being movable by playing rotation of the turn tables, and means operable by movement of the tone arm for procuring shifting movement of the turn tables upon completion of the playing operation of successive turn tables.

16. In a talking machine, a sup ort for a plurality of records, a tone arm a apted for movement" by the travel of its stylus in the rimnin hlamm;

. into action by a predetermined movement of said tone arm, for moving said record support and with it said tone arm, whereby to dispose another record in playing posltion, and means for thereafter procuring relative movement between said record support and said tone arm, whereby to transfer said tone arm from the first record to said second record.

17. In a talking machine, the combination with a reproducing mechanism, of a movable support for a plurality of records, means operable by the traverse of said reproducing mechanism, in playing one record, for inaugurating the movement of said support to carry another record toward its playing position, and means operated by relative movement between said support and said reproducing mechanism for causing the lowering of said reproducing mechanism into contact with said second record.

18. A multiple record talking machine, comprising a reproducing mechanism, a plurality of record turn tables movable bodily in unison to dispose different records in position for playing by said reproducing mechanism, and means brought into operation by relative movement between said reproducing mechanism and said turn-tables for separating said reproducing mechanism from a record which it has played, and for thereafter engaging it with another record that is carried into playing position by said movement.

19. A multiple record talking machine,

comprising a reproducing mechanism, a plurality of record turn tables movable bodily in unison to dispose difierent records in position for playing by said reproducing mechanism, and means responsive to said movement for initially procuring" movement of said reproducing mechanism in unison with a record which it has played and for finally procuring the transfer 0f.S3.ld reproducing mechanism from said record to another record'that is carried into playing position by said movement. a

' 20. A multiple record talking machine, comprising a reproducing mechanism, a plurality of record turn tables movable bodily in unison to dispose different records in position for playing by said reproducing mechanism, means carried by said turntables for engaging said reproducing mechanism, to return it to initial position for laying, and

a stop in the path of said repro ucing mechanism, to procure relative movement between it and said engaging means, whereby to separate said reproducing mechanism from the record which it has played.

.21. In a multiple record talking machine, a reproducing mechanism adapted for movement by the travel of its stylus in the groove of a record, means responsive to said movement of said reproducing mechanism for procuring movement of a record away from playing position, and means brought into operation .by the movement of said record out of playing position for causing said reproducing mechanism to move out of operative engagement with said record.

' 22. In a multiple record talking machine, a reproducing mechanism adapted for movement by the travel of itsstylus in the groove of a record, means responsive to said movement of said reproducing mechanism for procuring movement of a record away from playing position, and the movement of another record into playing position, and means brought into operation by the movement of the first record out of playing position for procuring the transfer of said reproducing mechanism from said first recordto said second record. 1

23. In a multiple record talking machine, a reproducing mechanism adapted for movement by the travel of its stylus in the groove of a record, means responsive to said movement of said reproducing mechanism for procuring movement of a record away from playing position, and the movement 'of another record into playing position, and means brought into operation by relative movement between said reproducing mechanism and the first record for causing the elevation of said reproducing mechanism away from said first record and the subsequent lowering of said reproducing mechanism into operative engagement with said second record. I

24. In a multiple record talkingmachine, a reproducing mechanism adapted for movement by the travel of its stylus in the groove of a record, means responsive to said movement of said reproducing mechanism for procuring movement of a recordaway from playing position, and the movement of another record into playing position, said reproducing mechanism moving initially in unison with said records, means for stopping the movement of said, reproducin mechanism, whereby to cause its withdrawa from said first record, and means responsive to the continued movement of said records for engaging said reproducing mechanism with said second record, when the 'latter reaches playing position.

g 25. In a multiple record talking machine, a reproducing mechanism adapted for movement by the travel of its stylus, in the groove of a record, a contact in the path of said reproducing mechanism, electrical means responsive to the engagementofsaid reproducing mechanism with said contact, for simultaneously moving one record out of playing between said contact and said reproducing mechanism, whereby the latter is withdrawn from said first record, and thereafter engaged with said second record, as the latter is stopped in playing position by the separation of said contact and said reproducing mechanism, to discontinue the operation of said electrical means.

'26. In a multiple record talking machine, a reproducing mechanism adapted for movement by the travel of its stylus in the groove of a record, an elongated contact in the path of said reproducing mechanism, said contact having a raised surface, inclined downwardly at each end, electrical means responsive to the engagement of said reproducing mechanism with said contact, for simultaneously moving one record out of playing position and another record toward playing position, said reproducing mechanism and said contact moving with said records, and a stop for limiting said move ment of said reproducing mechanism, whereby to cause t e sliding traverse therebeneath of said contact, one inclined end of which procures;the elevation of said reproducing mechanism away from said first I Witnesses:

record, and the other inclined end of which procures the lowering of said reproducing mechanismonto said second record, as the latter is stopped in playing position by the separation of said contact and reproducing mechanism to discontinue the operation of said electrical means.

27. A multiple record phonograph, comprising a pivoted tone arm, a member rotatably mounted upon the pivot of said tone .arm, a plurality of record carrying turn tables carried by said member, a sound ,box carried by the tone arm and engageable successively with records on the turn tables, means for procuring successive rotative steps of the rotatable member, a rotatable driven member secured to each turn table, and a driving means adjacent the path of said driven members and successively engageable therewith to impart rotation to each of said driven members, upon its movement there ad'acent.

ated this 7th day of Jul 1916.

. GEORGE HE RY ISLEY.

GERTRUDE ISLEY, GRACE" STOREY. 

